Police have brought a devastating two-week search to a close after confirming they believe they have recovered the body of missing teenager Grace Keeling. The 15-year-old was swept out to sea in a tragic incident at Withernsea Beach in East Riding of Yorkshire on January 2.
A Fatal Attempt to Rescue
Grace had been wave-watching with her mother, 45-year-old Sarah Keeling, when she was suddenly pulled into the water. Her mother and a 67-year-old Good Samaritan, Mark Ratcliffe, immediately waded in to try and save her. Tragically, all three were overcome by waves reported to be more than ten feet high.
The bodies of Sarah Keeling and Mark Ratcliffe were found within hours of the incident. However, treacherous weather and sea conditions severely hampered the search for Grace, delaying the recovery of her body for almost a fortnight.
The Prolonged Recovery Operation
Humberside Police, leading the investigation into the triple fatality, stated that Grace's body was located at 8.30am on Thursday, January 15. Due to ongoing safety concerns, it was not possible to bring her to land until after high tide on Saturday morning.
Detective Superintendent Simon Vickers expressed the force's profound sympathy. "This was a deeply upsetting incident, and I cannot begin to understand the heartbreak felt by all the loved ones of those involved," he said. The family have been updated and are being supported by specially trained officers.
The complex recovery operation involved Coastguard and fire service teams, along with specialist support. A formal identification process is still to be completed.
Eyewitness Account and Official Findings
Earlier reports indicated Grace and a friend were standing on steps near rocks when a wave swept her away. Eyewitness Richard Shaw, 68, described hearing screams as Grace struggled in the huge waves. He recalled trying to throw a lifebelt to Sarah Keeling before being knocked down by a wave himself.
"I knew she'd gone. If she could have been magically retrieved from that water, she could have probably been saved," Mr Shaw said. "I knew the mother could not be stopped from attempting to save her, and it was just immensely sad knowing that."
An inquest into the deaths of Sarah Keeling and Mark Ratcliffe was opened last week. It heard that Sarah Keeling, who was born in Germany and worked in international sales, died from drowning, with head and neck injuries as a contributing factor. Mark Ratcliffe, a retired warehouse manager from Withernsea, also died from drowning, with chest injuries listed as a contributory factor.
The incident has highlighted the immense dangers of the UK coastline, even for those observing from what seems to be a safe distance. The community of Withernsea is now left mourning the loss of three lives in a devastating sequence of events.
